Comcast

Guessing along with Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott is a risky business, fraught with the potential for the guesser (in this case: me) to look very silly.

But guessing along with Larry Scott is also fun.

So here we go …

*** The original timeline for a detailed announcement on the Pac-12 Network structure was late June/early July.

But that has been pushed back-back-back, to the point that I’d be shocked if the conference has any substantive news before, or during, the football media event in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

In fact, we’re probably looking at the middle of next month — and it could be later.

The network is scheduled to launch in Aug. ’12, and it will take about a year, according to Scott, to get everything in place. But his priority has to be getting the right structure, even if it takes longer than desired.

*** Tuesday, 5:30 a.m. update: The league will announce its TV deal on Wednesday, according to a Seattle Times report. There are no details on the network partner of the money. Obviously, things have moved even quicker than I indicated below …

My sense is that most fans have assumed for weeks that the league would sign a lucrative media rights deal — more than $200/$225 million, based on published reports — and that it would probably be with Fox or Comcast.

The question I have been asked more than any other is: When?

My impression has always been that late-May/early-June was the most likely timeframe, with a chance that it would stretch into late June if an unexpectedly strong bid came in late in the process.

But it appears the conference is moving more quickly than I expected.

Sources told me tonight that the Pac-12 is getting close … that it’s in the process of finalizing the contract and could have it signed and sealed within the next week or 10 days, depending on how long it takes to hash out the final details.

Need to dart over to Niners HQ for draft-related events, so this will be reasonably brief (as Pac-12 TV updates go) …

*** The asking price

Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott asked Fox for approximately $300 million annually for the league’s broadcasting rights during the just-completed exclusive negotiating window, according to sources.

(Fox turned him down, of course, which is why the league is now on the open market).

It’s a monumental, colossal figure, far beyond what the Big Ten and the SEC receive, and not all that surprising given:

1) Scott’s aggressive nature 2) the fact that the Pac-12 had nothing to lose by asking 3) the sizzling market for college sports rights and 4) the unprecedented amount of programming the conference is offering.

I gathered a fair amount of information that never made this post and wanted to add a few comments of my own. Let’s get right to it …

*** Going global

Once the media rights negotiations are completed, look for commissioner Larry Scott to take the Pac-12 show overseas.

The third phase of his plan to remake the conference … first phase: expansion; second: domestic TV deal … is to make a big push into Asia (and perhaps Europe, as well).

It makes a ton of sense (and cents) given how many Pac-12 students, athletes, fans and alums are of Asian ethnicity … and given the size of that market … and the popularity of some Olympic and women’s sports throughout the Pacific Rim.

And let’s not forget that Scott has experience in international marketing/sponsorship/TV dealings from his work as the head of the WTA, a global enterprise.

Scott wouldn’t discuss the specifics of his international plans with me other than to acknowledge he has them — but based on conversations with sources, here’s my best guess:

Starting next fall or in 2012, the league begins its international push, most likely with its soon-to-be-formed media company leading the way.